I originally wrote the following post at the beginning of December, though in a blink of an eye I was buried in finals and then tired from finals. Before I knew it the holidays were over and it just seemed frutile to send out Christmas cards. But alas an opportunity to share it with all of you arrose, this my innagural post of my first blog. I will write an update on this letter shortly, so keep your eyes out. Without further ado may I present December 2007…
Happy Holidays from the Nation’s Capital! I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you moments from my life this year. For this has been an exciting year for me, as I have had many new experiences and created some wonderful memories along the way. The spring semester was marked by the continuation of my study of Chinese and everything China. In addition to participating in a graduate Chinese History course, I countined my internship at National Geographic and began working in the Science Library at Georgetown.
May brought an end to the semester as well as an end to my eighteen month internship with the Cinema Ventures department at National Geographic. Although I was sad to see it end, I was ready to head home to Seattle for a nice long break. On the way home, I met my dad, aunt and uncle in Las Vegas. After taking in the many offerings of the city, my dad and I road trip-ed to Mexico and back, stopping along the way at the Grand Canyon’s new Skywalk. I quickly got over my fear of falling through the 5 inch glass and was running and jumping before I knew it, 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
Upon arriving in Seattle I dealt with all the joys and frustrations of moving back home, but I am really glad that I spent the summer at home. I got to re-know my brother who is now 16 and taller than me, which I still think is not right. But we’re even because Nate is still jealous of me; within two weeks of arriving home I convinced my dad to get a puppy. Within days Nathan and I, too, were road-tripping it across the mountains to meet a breeder. While Nathan insisted on driving on the way there (after all, he argued, he needed the practice for his upcoming driving test), he was content to snuggle with our new ball of fluff, Duke, on the way home. While Duke at 12 weeks old was content to nap in Nathan’s lap on the ride home, the now 9 month old Samoyed is gigantic!
I officially attained adulthood this summer, when I turned 21. We had a fabulous dinner at Coho’s, a restaurant my family frequents at home in Redmond. My extended family threw me a b-day scavenger hunt. I spent all day with different members of my family doing things I had never done before; I had breakfast with my Aunt Maria and my two cousins, Monica and Alex, at the golf-club near their home, I visited a hands on music museum with my Second-Cousin Rhonda, toured Seattle on Ride-the-Ducks with my Aunt Lisa – a very good quacking accompanist – and had dinner back at my Aunt’s house where we played my family’s favorite games: euchre and whomp-um. All in all, it was a good birthday.
August saw a vacation with my mom and brother where we went on a cruise to Alaska, sailing through the Inland Passage and then rode a train to Mount McKinley and Denali National Park. The wildlife abounded, but it was the adventures of hiking and biking on my own, kayaking and zip-lining with Nate, and a float plane flight over the glaciers to a salmon bake in a secluded area only accessible in summer by float plane and boat with my Brother and Mom and six hungry bears that was extremely memorable. In all, it was an amazing trip and a great way to cap the summer off before heading back to school.
I hope the year has treated you as well as it has me. With much love,
Ashley Howard.
Happy Holidays from the Nation’s Capital! I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you moments from my life this year. For this has been an exciting year for me, as I have had many new experiences and created some wonderful memories along the way. The spring semester was marked by the continuation of my study of Chinese and everything China. In addition to participating in a graduate Chinese History course, I countined my internship at National Geographic and began working in the Science Library at Georgetown.
I spent Spring Break in New York City, Baltimore, and visiting the many museums here in DC. As the semester continued, classes were puncuated with the success of Georgetown’s basketball team and my trip to Atlanta in April to cheer Georgetown on at the Final Four. Although I had nosebleed seats and we lost to Ohio State((who in return were beat by Floridia in the final game), I had an amazing time hanging with fellow Hoyas and partaking in all the activities.
May brought an end to the semester as well as an end to my eighteen month internship with the Cinema Ventures department at National Geographic. Although I was sad to see it end, I was ready to head home to Seattle for a nice long break. On the way home, I met my dad, aunt and uncle in Las Vegas. After taking in the many offerings of the city, my dad and I road trip-ed to Mexico and back, stopping along the way at the Grand Canyon’s new Skywalk. I quickly got over my fear of falling through the 5 inch glass and was running and jumping before I knew it, 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Upon arriving in Seattle I dealt with all the joys and frustrations of moving back home, but I am really glad that I spent the summer at home. I got to re-know my brother who is now 16 and taller than me, which I still think is not right. But we’re even because Nate is still jealous of me; within two weeks of arriving home I convinced my dad to get a puppy. Within days Nathan and I, too, were road-tripping it across the mountains to meet a breeder. While Nathan insisted on driving on the way there (after all, he argued, he needed the practice for his upcoming driving test), he was content to snuggle with our new ball of fluff, Duke, on the way home. While Duke at 12 weeks old was content to nap in Nathan’s lap on the ride home, the now 9 month old Samoyed is gigantic! 
I officially attained adulthood this summer, when I turned 21. We had a fabulous dinner at Coho’s, a restaurant my family frequents at home in Redmond. My extended family threw me a b-day scavenger hunt. I spent all day with different members of my family doing things I had never done before; I had breakfast with my Aunt Maria and my two cousins, Monica and Alex, at the golf-club near their home, I visited a hands on music museum with my Second-Cousin Rhonda, toured Seattle on Ride-the-Ducks with my Aunt Lisa – a very good quacking accompanist – and had dinner back at my Aunt’s house where we played my family’s favorite games: euchre and whomp-um. All in all, it was a good birthday.
August saw a vacation with my mom and brother where we went on a cruise to Alaska, sailing through the Inland Passage and then rode a train to Mount McKinley and Denali National Park. The wildlife abounded, but it was the adventures of hiking and biking on my own, kayaking and zip-lining with Nate, and a float plane flight over the glaciers to a salmon bake in a secluded area only accessible in summer by float plane and boat with my Brother and Mom and six hungry bears that was extremely memorable. In all, it was an amazing trip and a great way to cap the summer off before heading back to school. 
I arrived back in DC and after staying with a friend for a couple weeks, found my very first, really-truly-mine apartment. The coming weeks saw an infestation of spider-crickets and mice, but after a visit from the exterminator I was once again happily inhabiting my apartment alone. Regardless I am very proud to say that I am paying my own rent with a part-time job with National Geographic. I was excited to be met with a job offer on my return to DC and I now work part-time in the Marketing & Sponsorship department of NG Entertainment. We released Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (available at IMAX theaters) in October and I was honored to be given a line credit as Intern to the Associate Producer. I will forever be inscribed on the silver screen.
In my free time, I was just recently cast in the GU production of the Vagina Monologues and I religiously attend Georgetown home basketball games to cheer on the Hoyas. I am now in the midst of finals and will be heading home before I know it. This holiday season has been filled with friends’ parties and lots of studying, and even a little snow. While I have greatly enjoyed this year, I am very excited for 2008. I have just gained my dean’s approval to spend this coming fall abroad studying in Harbin, China, at an affiliate university to GU. The program is difficult, but is highlighted by a one-on-one tutorial with a professor where they will guide me in writing a research paper in Chinese. I will return to Georgetown for my last semester before I graduate from the School of Foreign Service in the spring.
I hope the year has treated you as well as it has me. With much love,
Ashley Howard.
